WEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090261981A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MJK Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: MJK Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Kenney, Michael, Velasquez, David, Huckey, Brent, Megdal, Robert J., Jones, David H., Kunnel, Douglas A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,203,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/666
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/414 using electronic computing means only
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/42 for counting by weighing G01G19/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 9/00 Methods of, or apparatus for, the determination of weight, not provided for in groups G01G1/00 - G01G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to weight monitoring systems for recovering, processing, monitoring, and managing various commodities or products stored in a container.

Claims

1. A weight monitoring system, comprising:

a container having an identification tag provided on a surface of the container;

a support device for receiving the container;

a weight monitoring system including a plurality of load sensors coupled to the support device, the plurality of load sensors monitoring any weight variance of the container; and

a security system for monitoring the container.

2. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising an accounting system for generating invoices once the container is removed from the support device.

3. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising an asset realization system for booking assets based on a value of a material loaded into the container.

4. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a tracking system for monitoring a current location of the container.

5. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the container includes a bottom surface and at least one side wall to define a space for receiving a material.

6. The weight monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the container further includes a top.

7. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the identification tag is a radiofrequency identification tag.

8. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the identification tag includes a bar code, color code, or numerical code.

9. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the identification tag includes a tare weight of the secured container.

10. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the support device is a platform, one or more rails, tray, or any combination thereof.

11. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the support device further comprises a locking device for securing the container to the support device.

12. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the security system includes one or more cameras, one or more motion sensors, a card access system, a personal identification number system, a challenge and response system, or any combination thereof.

13. The weight monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a data transmission system providing a communication link between the security system and the weight monitoring system.

14. A weight monitoring system, comprising:

a system for processing a material and storing the material within a secured container;

a system for monitoring a weight of the secured container as the processed material is placed within the secured container; and

a computer system in communication with the weight monitoring system, the computer system adapted to generate an invoice based on the weight of the processed material within the secured container prior to removing the secured container from the weight monitoring system.

15. The weight monitoring system of claim 14, further comprising a system for analyzing the material placed within the container, the system for analyzing the material including one or more sensors in communication with the computer system.

16. The weight monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the system for processing material further comprises:

a sorting table;

a product conveyor in operable communication with the sorting table; and

a centrifuge in operable communication with the auger, the centrifuge capable of separating the material from any associated fluids.

17. The weight monitoring system of claim 14, further comprising a security system in communication with the weight monitoring system and the computer system.

18. The weight monitoring system of claim 14, further comprising an asset realization system for assigning a value to the material.

19. The weight monitoring system of claim 14, further comprising a tracking system for monitoring a location of the secured container.

20. An asset realization system, comprising:

a system for processing and loading a material into a secured container;

a system for detecting weight variances of the processed material placed within the secured container;

a web interface in communication with the weight monitoring system, the web interface capable of obtaining a current value of the processed material; and

a computer system in communication with the weight monitoring system and the web interface, the computer system adapted to assign and book a current monetary value to the processed material stored within the secured container.

21. An weight management system, comprising:

a weight monitoring system measuring a weight of a secured container at a remote site, the weight monitoring system transmitting the weight of the secured container to a central monitoring site; and

a central monitoring system in communication with the weight monitoring system at the remote site, the central monitoring system dispatching pickup of the secured container when a predetermined percentage of a weight capacity of the secured container is achieved.

22. The weight management system of claim 21, further comprising an accounting system in communication with the central monitoring system, the accounting system generating an invoice upon the removal of the secured container from the weight monitoring system at the remote site.

23. The weight management system of claim 21, further comprising a tracking system for monitoring a current location of the secured container.

24. The weight management system of claim 21, wherein the secured container further comprises:

two or more load sensors; and

a data transmission device for sending a message to the central monitoring system when a load shift above a predetermined threshold is detected in the secured container.

25. A method for securely recovering of a material, the method comprising:

locking a secured container onto a weight monitoring system, the weight monitoring system including a plurality of load sensors for monitoring weight variances of the secured container;

identifying the secured container;

obtaining a tare weight of the secured container;

initiating a recovery transaction;

sending an alert to one or more designated parties in response to a variance in container weight detected that is outside a predetermined weight variance during the recovery transaction;

transmitting recovery data to one or more designated parties in response to termination of the recovery process, the recovery data including a weight of the material contained within the secured container; and

invoicing a party based on the recovery data.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein invoicing the party further comprises:

obtaining current value per unit weight of the material from selected market indices posted on a website or a designated database; and

calculating a monetary value of the material based on the weight of the material and the current value per unit weight of the material.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the recovery transaction further comprises:

verifying the identity of the secured container;

identifying the material to be loaded into the secured container; and

sending transaction data to one or more designated parties.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the transaction data includes a transaction number, time, date, container identification, operator identification, a photograph of the operator, or any combination thereof.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the alert is a text message, instant message, electronic mail, voice message, or any combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein recovery data includes a transaction number, time, date, container identification, operator identification, a photograph of the operator, tare weight of the container, gross weight of the container, net weight of the material, or any combination thereof.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising unlocking the secured container from the weight monitoring system.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising tracking the secured container during transportation.

33. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

monitoring the secured container; and

emitting a warning signal in response to an intrusion around a predefined area around the secured container.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising sending an alert to one or more designated parties in response to the intrusion.

35. The method of claim 25, further comprising generating a shipping document for the secured container.

36. A method for realizing assets for a company, the method comprising:

locking a secured container having a tare weight onto a weight monitoring system, the weight monitoring system including a plurality of load sensors for obtaining and monitoring a weight of the secured container;

initiating a recovery transaction;

recovering scrap metal from a site;

storing the scrap metal recovered from the site within the secured container;

obtaining a net weight of the scrap metal within the secured container;

calculating a value of the scrap metal based upon the net weight of the scrap metal and a monetary value of the scrap metal per unit of weight; and

booking the value of the scrap metal as an asset of the company.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising verifying identity of the scrap metal by analyzing the scrap metal.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising unlocking and removing the secured container from the weight monitoring system;

monitoring the secured container with a security system; and

emitting a warning signal in response to an intrusion around a predefined area around the secured container.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising further comprising sending an alert to one or more designated parties in response to the intrusion.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

obtaining the monetary value per unit weight of the scrap metal from selected market indices posted on a website or a designated database.

41. A method for weight management of one or more containers located at one or more remote sites, the method comprising:

securing a container to a weight monitoring system located a remote site, the weight management system including a plurality of load sensors for obtaining and monitoring a weight of the container, and a central management server in communication with the weight monitoring system;

identifying the container at the remote site;

monitoring the weight of the container;

transmitting a message to the central management server when the weight of the container contents reaches a predetermined weight;

scheduling pickup of the container; and

invoicing a designated party based on the weight of the container once the container is transported away from the remote site.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising preventing the loading of any additional material into the container after the message is transmitted to the central management server.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising tracking the container during transit.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising transmitting an alert to designated individuals in response to the container deviating from a predetermined route.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

detecting a load imbalance in the container during transit of the container; and

transmitting an alert to designated individuals in response to the load imbalance.